Combined bathtub shelf and head rest



y 1956 P. B. KRAFT COMBINED BATHTUB SHELF AND HEAD REST Filed Dec. 19, 1952 mlll n "I Pauline B. Kraft INVENTOR.

United States Patent O COMBINED BATHTUB SHELF AND HEAD REST Pauline B. Kraft, Evansville, Ind.

Application December 19, 1952, Serial No. 326,885

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-185) My invention relates to improvements in combined shelves and head rests for use on bath tubs for shampooing the hair, especially childrens hair.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a light weight, strong shelf for resting on the rim of a bath tub transversely thereof to support shampooing accessories and which embodies a built-in head rest especially designed to comfortably support the back of the head of a person sitting in a reclining position in the bath tub, whereby the hair can be conveniently shampooed by an attendant, with the head of the person in a position such that the shampoo material will not get into the eyes or onto the face of the person.

Another object is to provide a device of the type and for the purpose above set forth which will not mar the finish of the bath tub and is adapted for quick, easy attachment to bath tubs of different Widths without clamps extending over the rim of the bath tub.

Other and subordinate objects, within the purview of my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements will become readily apparent When the succeeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawing accompanying it forming part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in plan of my invention in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation;

Figure 3 is a view in transverse central section illustrating the manner in which the invention is used, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view in plan, partly in section, of a modified embodiment of my invention;

Figure 6 is a view in front elevation of the same;

Figure 7 is an enlarged view in transverse section taken on the line 77 of Figure 5; and,

Figure 8 is an enlarged view in transverse section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawing by numerals and first to Figures 1 to 4, in the preferred embodiment the combined shelf and head rest 1 of my invention comprises a rectangular, flat metal panel 2, preferably hollow for strength and lightness, and of requisite length to extend transversely of a bath tub 3 with its ends resting on the rim 5 of the bath tub. The panel 2 is preferably formed of chrome steel or stainless steel.

Adjacent each end thereof, the panel 2 is provided with means for securing same to the bath tub 3 comprising bolts 7 depending through a pair of longitudinal slots 9 in said panel so that said bolts 7 are slidably adjustable in upright position along said panel 2 to engage the inner side wall of the bath tub 3 and clamp the panel to the bath tub. Wing nuts 11 and washers 13 on the upper ends of the bolts 7, and collars 15 on said bolts 7 below the panel 2 provide means for locking said bolts in an adjusted position. Rubber sleeves 17 on the bolts 7 retained thereon by the collars 15 and the heads 19 on said bolts, prevent the bolts from marring the finish of the bath tub 3... t V j Flat rubber sleeves 21 on the ends of the panel 2 suitably secured thereon, as by cement, not shown, prevent said ends from marring the finish of the rim 5 of the bath tub and are bifurcated, as at 23, to clear the slots 9 and the wing nuts 11 and washers 13, also the collars 15.

The panel 2 is provided in the center thereof with a depending head rest portion 25 concave longitudinally of said panel and slanting upwardly, and rearwardly of what constitutes the front longitudinal edge of the panel 2, and whereby said head rest portion 25 will support in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position the head of a person seated in reclining position in the bath tub 3, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. It is to be noted that the width of the head rest portion 25 is such that the head will be supported at the lower back portion thereof so that the hair can hang down behind said head rest portion to facilitate shampooing and drying thereof.

In the modified embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 5 to 8, the combined shelf and head rest 29 is formed of a skeleton panel 31, of rod material, for drainage purposes and includes central and longitudinal side rods 33, 35 and end intermediate cross rods 37, 39, all rubber coated, as at 40 for protection purposes. The panel 31 is provided with securing means comprising bolts 41 with rubber sleeves 43 thereon, as in the preferred embodiment. However, the bolts 41 have bifurcated upper ends 45 straddling the center rod 33 for sliding adjustment, like the bolts 7, and for the same purpose. Wing nuts 47 on the bolts 41 engage the center rod 33 and together with the bifurcated ends 45 clamp said bolts 41 in an adjusted position. The head rest portion 49 corresponds to the head rest portion 25 of the preferred embodiment.

The head rest portion 25 of thepreferred embodiment may be, if desired, reinforced on opposite sides thereof by reinforcing ribs 51, and the head rest portion 49 of the modified embodiment may be similarly reinforced by ribs 53.

As will be clear, the shelf 1 of the preferred embodiment may be utilized to support at opposite sides of the head rest portion 25 shampooing accessories such as bottles or jars of shampoo material, brushes, or the like, and the head rest portion 25 will drain downwardly and forwardly. The shelf 29 of the modified embodiment is especially adapted for supporting on opposite sides of the head rest portion 49 such shampooing accessories as sponges and brushes to drain through the shelf and the head rest portion 49 is especially adapted for drainage because of its skeleton construction.

The foregoing, it is believed, will sufiice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible to modification, without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A combined shelf and head rest for use on a bath tub in shampooing the hair'comprising a flat rigid panel of a length to extend transversely over a bath tub with its ends resting on the rim of the tub, said panel having a central, integral rigid head rest portion depending therefrom and concaved longitudinally of the panel for supporting a head, said panel and head rest portion being of skeleton form for drainage purposes and including a pair of longitudinal side rods and a longitudinal center rod, and a pair of bifurcated bolts straddling said center rod and slidable along the same into engagement with the sides of the tub to secure said panel to the tub, and nuts on the furcations of said bolts for clamping the same to said center rod in engagement with said sides of the tub,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,369,928 Lockwood Mar. 1, 1921 4 Brothers Dec. 12, 1931 Lambrecht Apr. 24, 1934 Reagan July 29, 1947 Burke Apr. 3, 1951 Moore July 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Nov. 12, 1936 

